NESTLE'S
INVESTMENT IN ZIONISM:
Employing 224,541 people in 479 factories worldwide, Nestle is not only
Switzerland's largest industrial company but also the world's largest food
company. (1) This corporate prominence means that what Nestle does sets an
example for thousands of aspiring businesses. According to the Swiss-Israeli
chamber of commerce, one of the most important examples Nestle has set is that
it is advantageous to invest in Israel. (2) Nestle began investment in Israel in
1995 by buying 10% of Israeli food maker Osem Investments. Two years later
Nestle increased its ownership, at a cost of $140 million, to 50.1% giving it
the controlling share. (3) A January 2002 agreement between the Swiss and
Israeli governments to avoid double taxation for Swiss companies that produce in
Israel and sell in Europe led Nestle to announce in September 2002 vast
expansion in Israel that will pour $80 million more into the Israeli economy.
(4)
Nestle's main presence in Israel is in Sderot, a settlement founded in 1951 one
kilometer from the Gaza Strip to accommodate an influx of Sephardic Jews in and
to spread Jewish presence uniformly throughout Israel. (5) Sderot is built on
the lands of the Palestinian town Al-Najd, which was ethnically cleansed in
1948. (6) Today Sderot is home to 23,000 Jewish immigrants from Morocco,
Ethiopia, and the former Soviet Union, half of whom came in the last ten years.
(7) Like many sites for immigrant settlement, or "development zones" as they
are known to the Israeli state, Sderot lacks basic facilities that make for a
comfortable living. It has the highest unemployment rate in Israel (10%) and a
full 30% of the children living in Sderot depend on private and government
charity. (8) 25% of the recent immigrants' children do not finish school. (9)
Enter Nestle: Jointly with Osem, Nestle already runs a 700 m2 factory in Sderot,
and last year the company announced that it intended to open a 1,700 m2 research
and development center there. (10) Such operations provide a decent wage and
living in an other-wise poverty-stricken town. They, also, enable the Israeli
government to continue to import Jews who will fill the land of Israel while
denying Palestinians their right of return. In 2002 Nestle received a grant for
24% of the $5.6 million cost from the Israeli government, which offers various
incentives to encourage investment in development zones. (11) The Israeli
government gives these grants, funded in turn by US economic assistance, to
companies that can help it solve the difficult social problems accompanying mass
absorption of ethnically distinct groups. At the same time, building in
development zones means building over the remains of Palestinian habitation.
When the old stone buildings and stubborn cactus plants are covered over, so,
too, it is hoped, are the grounds for a Palestinian history and right of return.
In total, Nestle currently has over 4000 Israeli employees at 11 plants, with
the following all in "development zones":Tzabar Salads (an Osem subsidiary)
plant in Kiryat Gat (on the former site of Palestinian village Iraq al-Manshiyya,
destroyed by Israelis after 1948); a ready-baked cakes factory in Ahihud; and a
logistics center will be built in Nachsholim (Al-Tantura) (12)
But Nestle's benefits to the Israeli economy don't stop with just factories and
jobs. The Research & Development center in Sderot is considered particularly
beneficial to Osem's growth as it " gives [Osem] advantages in technological
know-how and increased export opportunities through Nestle's distribution
network." Consequently, Osem's shares are growing five times faster than the
rest of the Tel Aviv stock market. (13) Also, Nestle's investment in Osem has
meant that its products can reach a global market which is necessary not only
to continued growth of the company but to its very survival in a time of deep
local recession caused by the Intifada. Osem's sales turnover in 2001 was $460
million, of which 15% came from exports (14).
Furthermore, Nestle-Osem contributes to community development through numerous
charity projects. "Schools receive assistance through the Join the Industry
project which introduces various aspects of Israeli industry to the classroom.
Senior managers visit schools and teach classes about their industry. Schools
are also welcome to visit the Company's factories. Students receive guidance
from Osem's executives" (15).
These educational projects relieve the Israeli government of having to furnish a
budget for educational advancement. At the same time, because they are carried
out by a private company, they can be directed to the benefit of Jewish Israelis
only. It is through such private efforts that the Israeli state can claim to act
democratically - treating all its citizens equally - while Palestinians are
flagrantly discriminated against.
Detractors from a boycott against Nestle point to the factory Nestle has on PA
territory, in the Karni industrial zone in Gaza (16). Many companies active in
Israel employ low-skilled Palestinian labor, finding it advantageous to use a
captive resident population that is at once socially deprived (no insurance or
union), politically oppressed, and able to provide its own food and board (17).
The opening of Nestle's factory in Karni, in spring 2000, should be understood
in this context of abetting and benefiting from an apartheid system of social
rights.
In sum, Nestle builds on stolen Palestinian lands, covers up the ruins, provides
jobs and opportunities that realize the Zionist goal of a purely Jewish presence
in Israel and then sells the products of such an apartheid system abroad so that
the Israeli economy can flourish while spending vast amounts on the oppression
of Palestinians demanding their rights. No wonder Nestle received from Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in 1998 the Jubilee Award, "the highest tribute ever
awarded by the State of Israel in recognition of those individuals and
organizations, that through their investments and trade relationships, have done
the most to strengthen the Israeli economy." (18)
A CONSISTENT CORPORATE CRIMINAL:
Since 1977, Nestle has been the subject of an international boycott for its
deceptive promotion of artificial baby milk as a superior alternative to
mother's milk. Artificial baby milk can harm babies because it does not contain
the natural antibodies which a mother's milk provides, and because it is
extremely expensive causing many mothers to mix it with too much water resulting
in mal-nutrition. Also, in many places the water used to dilute it is not
potable. Once a mother starts giving her baby formula, her own supply of milk
dries up. Nestle provides free packages of formula in hospitals with the result
that many babies never even get a chance to start nursing. In 1984 the boycott
forced Nestle to agree to abide by the World Health Organization's International
Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes. However, when it was discovered
that the company has not abided by its promise, the boycott was re-launched in
1988. It continues vigorously to this day. (19)
Nestle has also attracted criticism for its use of genetically modified
ingredients, and for its cocoa and coffee-buying policies which encourage
slavery. For example, Nestle purchases cocoa from the Ivory Coast where cocoa
plantations use child slavery. (20) Most recently, the company has been
implicated in lobbying against vaccination of livestock during the British Foot
and Mouth Disease outbreak in 2001. (21)
Does Nestle ever recognize corporate responsibility for human suffering caused
by its management and production practices? In 2000, Nestle donated $20 million
to Holocaust reparations funds, saying, " As the legal successor of [Nazi]
corporations, Nestlé nevertheless accepts its moral responsibility to help
alleviate human suffering, all the more so since this injustice was committed in
the Company's domain." (22) Such commitment to redressing wrongs visited on one
sector of humanity makes Nestle's hypocritical exploitation of Palestinian
factory workers and investment in the apartheid structure of Israel all the more
worthy of attack.
WHAT DO WE DEMAND FROM NESTLE?
A "consumer-driven company" like Nestle must have its finger close to the pulse
of consumers' demands (23) Nestle's corporate administration should know that
Arabs and people of conscience throughout the world condemn Nestle's economic
and moral support for a corrupt, racist social system. Nestle must close its
factories in Israel and sell its shares of Osem until Israel acknowledges the
Palestinian right of return and right of nation on all historical Palestine. If
consumers in countries where Osem's products are marketed today boycott these
products, then Osem's Israeli factories will be rendered "under-productive" and
face closure. If Nestle knows that it cannot ever produce enough in Sderot/al-Najd,
Kiryat Gat/Iraq al-Manshiyya, Nachsholim/Al-Tantura to cover the costs of
business lost in the Arab world and abroad, then it will have no choice but to
divest from Israel.
Arabs are not alone in their boycott of Nestle. In addition to the groups
mentioned above who boycott Nestle for other, laudable, reasons, Britain's
largest union, UNISON and a major Christian group, Christian Aid, have added
Nestle to their boycott of Israel goods.(24) Nestle's Israeli adventure began
only after the thawing of the Arab boycott in 1993, so let the company know that
our objections to Israel have not been reduced by the "peace process" but rather
increased.
HOW TO BOYCOTT NESTLE?
Nescafé, Taster's Choice, Hills Bros, Cerealac, Nido, Fitness & Fruit,
Appleminis, Cheerios, Chocapic Cornflakes (in some countries), Shreddies, Golden
Grahams, Trix, Perrier, Poland Spring, Deer Park, Calistoga, Sohat, Vittel, Pure
Life, Carnation, Libby's, Nesquik, Maggi, Buitoni , Milkybar, KitKat, Quality
Street, Smarties, Oreo, After Eight, Lion, Aero, Polo, Toll Hosue Morsels,
Crunch, L'Oréal, Alcon Eyecare, Goobers, Mint Royal, Nerds, Oh Henry!, Rowntree,
Rolo, Del Monte Real Fruit Bar, Minute Maid, Petit Gervals, Contadina, Alpo,
Purina, Tidy Cats, Meow Mix, Mighty Dog, Friskies, Felix, Stouffers
Be sure to write a letter or e-mail to Nestle Headquarters letting them know of
your objection to their support for Israel.
http://www.nestle.com/Data/ContactUs/index.asp
Or
Nestlé USA, Inc.
800 North Brand Blvd.
Glendale, CA 91203
Telephone: 1-818-549 60 00
Fax: 1-818 549 69 52
Nestlé Consumer Services:
Direct Telephone: 1-818 549 6818
1)
http://www.nestle.com/all_about/at_a_glance/index.html
2) Swiss Embassy - Tel Aviv, "Economic relations with Israel,"
http://www.eda.admin.ch/telaviv_emb/e/home/comeco/econo.html
3) "Nestle to Set Up
Research Center in Israel," Kosher Today, Dec 26, 2000,
http://www.koshertoday.com/weekly%20news%20archives/2000/122600.htm
4) "Stories of Success II,"
Israeli Ministry of Industry,
http://www.moit.gov.il/root/Hidden/ipc/advantagesstories2.html#osem ;
Tal Muscal, "Treasury: Swiss companies plan to expand investments here,"
Jerusalem Post, January 24, 2002,
http://www.jpost.com/Editions/2002/01/24/Digital/Digital.42264.html
5) Janine Zacharia, "Rockin' Moroccans," in The Jerusalem Report, Jan. 7,1997,
http://www.jrep.com/Info/10thAnniversary/1997/Article-1.html.
6) Palestine Remebered.com,
"Najd,"
http://netfinity2.palestineremembered.com/Gaza/Najd/
7) Yedid - Citizens' Rights
Center, "Background,"
http://www.yedid.co.il/whatwedo/crc/sderot.html.
8) Gvanim Association,
"Background,"
http://www.gvanim.org.il/info/english/welcome.htm
9) Yedid, op cit.
10) "Rockin' Moroccans," op
cit.; Mir Arielli, "Economy More
Threatening Than Rockets," March 19, 2003,
http://www.themedialine.org/news/news_detail.asp?NewsID=1365
11) "Nestle Applies for
Grant," in ATID, March 3, 2002,
http://www.atid-edi.com/bw3-3-02.htm
12) Ibid.; "Union upgrades Osem to Buy," TheMarker.com, Sept. 23, 2002,
http://www.thestreet.com/_yahoo/tech/themarker/10043621.html;
"Incentives to Invest in Israel," Israel Export Institute,
http://www.export.org.il/IsraelExportInstitute/buildagate/general2/dat
a_card.php3?NewNameMade=10&ValuePage=Prod; Elmer Winter,
"How to Make Money in Israel," Committee for Economic Growth for Israel March
Newsletter, (March 8, 1999),
http://www.cegi.org
13) Osem to invest $80m in new development region plants," Sept. 2002,
http://www.israeltrade.org.au/comnews0902.html#ciii2
14) "Union upgrades Osem to Buy," op cit.
15) Osem to invest $80m," op cit.
16) Vered Sharon-Rivlin,
"Marketing 2001 - Ups and downs for Israel's top tier execs" Globes, Dec. 30,
2001,
http://www.globes.co.il/serveEN/globes/special_temp.asp?fid=1652
17)http://www.community.nestle.com/mosaic.asp?pays=16
18) Haggay Etkes,"Nestle, Pepsi-Cola, Japan Tobacco To Open Plants in Karni
Industrial Zone," Globes/Israel's Business Arena, April 30, 2000,
http://www.tobacco.org/articles/country/israel/?&total_count=147&starting_at=100
19) BT'selem, "Builders of Zion: Human Rights Violations of Palestinians from
the Occupied Territories Working in Israel and
and in the Settlements," Sept. 1999,
http://www.btselem.org/
20) From the Virtual Israel website, quoted by Friends of Al-Aqsa,
http://www.aqsa.org.uk/flyers/boycott.html
21) Baby Milk Action,
"The Nestle Boycott,"
http://www.babymilkaction.org/pages/boycott.html
22)
http://www.jsonline.com/bym/news/jun01/response24062301.asp
23) Corporate Watch, Nestle
Profile,
http://www.corporatewatch.org.uk/profiles/food_supermarkets/nestle/
Nestle_Profile.rtf
24) "Nestlé: Solidarity Contribution of CHF
25)Million to US Settlement," Corporate Web-Site, August 28, 2000
http://www.ir.nestle.com/home-frameset.asp?largeur=800 25)
William Echikson, "Nestle: An Elephant Dances ,"Business Week, Dec. 11, 2000,
http://www.businessweek.com/2000/00_50/b3711064.htm
27) FelicityArbuthnot, "Boycott Israeli outlaws," The Guardian May 29, 2002,
http://www.cpa.org.au/garchve5/1093boycott.html
Contacts again
Nestlé USA, Inc.
800 North Brand Blvd.
Glendale, CA 91203
Telephone: 1-818-549 60 00
Fax: 1-818 549 69 52
Nestlé Consumer Services:
Direct Telephone: 1-818 549 6818
Direct Fax: 1-818 549 63 30
http://www.nestle.com/Data/ContactUs/index.asp